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Battle of Didgori

Coordinates:41°41′N44°31′E/ 41.683°N 44.517°E/41.683; 44.517
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Battle of Didgori
Part of theGeorgian–Seljuk wars

Didgori monument
DateAugust 12, 1121
Location
Didgori Valley,Kingdom of Georgia
(present-day Didgori,Georgia)
41°41′N44°31′E/ 41.683°N 44.517°E/41.683; 44.517
Result Georgian victory[1][2][3][4]
Belligerents
Seljuk Empire
Kingdom of Georgia
Commanders and leaders
Ilghazi(WIA)
Tughril bin Muhammad[5]
Dubays II		 David IV
PrinceDemetrius
Strength

Modern estimates:
Several times larger[6][7][8][9]
100,000–250,000
(Georgian sources)[10][11][12]
30,000
(Turkish sources)[13][14][15]

Medieval Christian sources:
400,000–600,000 or 800,000[16][17]

Medieval Arab sources

30,000[18]

Total:55,600 (Georgian sources)[17][19]

Battle of Didgori is located in Georgia
Battle of Didgori
Battle of Didgori
class=notpageimage|
Location of Didgori valley in Georgia with present-day administrative borders.

TheBattle of Didgori(Georgian:დიდგორის ბრძოლა,romanized:didgoris brdzola) was fought between the armies of theKingdom of Georgiaand theSeljuk Empireat the narrow place of Didgori, 40 km west ofTbilisi,on August 12, 1121. The large Muslim army, under the command ofIlghazi,was unable to maneuver and suffered a devastating defeat due to KingDavid IV's effective military tactics.

The battle at Didgori was the culmination of the entireGeorgian–Seljuk warsand led to the Georgians'reconquest of Tbilisiin 1122. Soon after that David moved the capital fromKutaisito Tbilisi. The victory at Didgori inaugurated the medievalGeorgian Golden Ageand is celebrated inThe Georgian Chroniclesas a (Georgian:ძლევაჲ საკვირველიdzlevay sak'virvelilit.the "miraculous victory"). Modern Georgians continue to remember the event as an annual August 12 festival known asDidgoroba( "[the day] of Didgori" ).[22][23]

Deployment and order of battle[edit]

The Muslim coalition[edit]

Both Georgian and Islamic sources testify that on the complaints of the Muslim merchants of –Tbilisi,GanjaandDmanisi–SultanMahmud IIofBaghdad(r. 1118–1131) sent an expedition into Georgia under command ofIlghazi ibn ArtuqofMardin,whose hegemony in theMiddle Eastand authority among theMuslimswas indisputable. After pillaging theCounty of Edessaand defeat ofRoger of Antiochat thebattle of Ager Sanguinisin 1119, the reputation of Ilghazi as a great military commander and champion of Muslims against Christians spread far and wide.

After this victory Ilghazi made a truce with theCrusadersand went north towardsArmeniaat the invitation of the sultan's brother Toghrul, ruler ofArran.There he joined a Muslim coalition against Christian Georgians and lead the coalition's army,[24][page needed]in which his vassalTughan-Arslanlord ofArzen,BidlisandDvin,theMazyadidDubays b. SadaqaofAl Hillah,Toghrul andNakhichevan,with hisatabegKun-Toghdi,all took part.

According to historian Alexander Mikaberidze, "The size of the Muslim army is still a matter of debate, with numbers ranging from a fantastic 600,000 men (as given byWalter the ChancellorandMatthew of Edessa) to 400,000 (Sempad Sparapet's Chronicle), while estimates of modern Georgian historians vary between 100,000 and 250,000 men. Although the higher numbers are exaggerated, all sources indicate that the Muslims made massive preparations. In mid-summer 1121, the Muslim troops advanced along various routes, with part of them passing the provinces ofErzerumandKars,whileSultanToghrul ibn Muhammad moved throughGanjaand Tughan-Arslan the "Hunchback" marched fromDvin."[25]

According toMatthew of Edessa,the Muslim coalition numbered 560,000 men in total, led byIlghaziwith his vassalTughan-Arslan,and with support from nomadic Arab tribes.

As the Georgian king was well aware of the coalition's plans, he decided to exclude one of the coalition leaders. In the first half of 1121, the Georgians twice attacked the Seljuks in the territory of theEmirate of Ganjaand massacred them. As a consequence, the ruler ofArranwas no longer able to participate in the campaign.

Ilghazi was aware of the defeat of his main ally, but he continued his march. In July 1121, the army of Ilghazi entered Georgian territory. According toAl-Fāriqī,Ilghazi selected the route fromKarstoJavakhetiandTrialetito reachTbilisi,where he could camp, rest, and then act against the Georgians. The Muslim army under the overall command of Ilghazi entered the valley ofTrialetiin eastern Georgia and encamped in thevicinities of DidgoriandManglisiin 10 August 1121,[26]about a day's march from Tbilisi.

Little is known of Ilghazi's exact battle plan or course of action and order of battle other than the commonly suggested deployment of large numbers of light missile troops, particularly archers and light cavalry in the vanguard to harass the enemy lines while the bulk of the army remained behind them in orderly battle formation. It is suggested that Ilghazi's vanguard approached David's army and reported back about a much smaller force than expected, which might have raised Ilghazi's confidence enough to not expect any surprise. It is also claimed that the Seljuq light cavalry rode in front of the Georgians and started to shoot and taunt them which was received with little to no effect on their morale. There is no evidence of heavy cavalry present on Ilghazi's side or any type of cavalry which could have matched the Georgian counterpart.

The Georgian army[edit]

On the other side, the Georgians were facing a significantly superior foe in terms of numbers, but had the strategic as well as tactical advantage. The Georgians were well aware of the Muslim preparations and took necessary precautions. In 1118, after successful completion ofDavid IV's military reform, aroyal guardand a household force known as 'mona-spa', a royal servant host made up of mercenaries andlower nobilitywas formed. The Georgian army of 56,000 men included 500Alans,about 200Franks,and 15,000Kipchaks.

The smallest formations would be equivalents of today'splatoons"group of 20" (ოცეული), then a "group of 100" (ასეული) and so forth all led by servants of higher status and different rank. The core component of David's army was the so called mona-spa, or servant host, the personal retinue of the king, which consisted of 5,000 well-trained and heavily armored mounted warriors with lances and bows. They were used as shockcavalrytogether with the nobility. TheCrusaders,theKipchakcavalry, and a small portion of infantry were deployed in the center of the Georgian army around the king's banner while the rest were equally split in two major wings initially out of sight for the Seljuqs. Each formation was headed by a great and dense line of horsemen. The heavy cavalry would smash into the enemy ranks with theirlances,joined by the infantry which would entangle the Seljuq main body in fights while the cavalry was to regroup and carry out repeated attacks till the enemy broke. At the sign of collapse, David would then send forward his Kipchak cavalry. Initially the king and all his entourage stayed in the center but would immediately switch to their respective positions when the battle commenced. During battle, David IV would assume command over his army's left wing, while Demetrius was leading the right.

According to the French knight and historianWalter the Chancellor,before heading off to battle, King David inspired his army with these words:

“Soldiers of Christ! If we fight bravely for our Faith, we will defeat not only the devil’s servants, but the devil himself. We will gain the greatest weapon of spiritual warfare when we make a covenant with the Almighty God and vow that we would rather die for His love than escape from the enemy. And if any one of us should wish to retreat, let us take branches and block the entrance to the gorge to prevent this. When the enemy approaches, let us attack fiercely!”[25]

Kipchaks[edit]

Main article:Kipchaks in Georgia

Georgian relations withCumans-Kipchaksseem to have been generally peaceful. Moreover, the Georgian politicians of that time saw the Kipchaks as potential allies against the Seljuk conquests. According to Georgian chronicles, Georgians knew about the Kipchaks' good fighting skills, their bravery, and the enormous human resources that they had. "[27]After the victories of theRus'Grand PrinceVladimir II Monomakhin 1109, 40,000 Kipchaks commanded byOtrokKhan,[28][29]known in Georgia as Atrak'a, son of Sharagan (i.e. Sharukan), fled to Georgia, received baptism, and entered the service of the Georgian king David IV. TheGeorgian-Kipchak alliancewas facilitated byDavid's earlier marriageto theKhan's daughter, who received the nameGurandukht.Kipchaks were outfitted by the crown and were granted lands to settle. In turn, the Kipchaks provided one soldier per family, allowing King David to establish a standing army in addition to his royal troops.

Franks[edit]

The participation ofFrankishsoldiers in the battle of Didgori is reported in two sources: one by a 12th-centuryArmenianhistorian,Matthew of Edessa,who mentions 100 Franks,[30]and the other byWalter the Chancellor,according to whom David used 200 Frankish soldiers deployed ahead of his armies as a striking force against the enemy.[31]

There is no exact information whether they wereauxiliarytroops sent by the prince ofAntiochor kingBaldwin II of Jerusalem,[32]or simplymercenaries.However, as both Franks and Georgians had one common enemy, the Muslims, it can be argued that the Frank soldiers were allies rather than mercenaries. It's supposed that Crusaders arrived to Georgia throughConstantinoplebecause the territory betweenAntiochand Georgia was occupied by the Seljuks.

class=notpageimage|
Battle of DidgoriMouseover for name.
Blue circle=Capital
Red dot=Muslim held cities and fortresses
Black dot=regions within Kingdom of Georgia
X=Major battle

The battle[edit]

King David could not allow Ilghazi to unite with the Tbilisi Muslims, so he decided to intercept him on his way there. He used a strategy of surprise and to entice the enemy step-by-step into a trap. He chose a mountainous and wooded area near theDidgoriMountain range, situated between Manglisi and Tbilisi, to attack. "On August 11, 1121, King David led his army along the Nichbisi valley from the ancient capital ofMtskhetaand divided his troops into two parts, one under his personal command and the other smaller group under his sonDemetrius I,hidden in reserve behind the nearby heights with orders to attack the flank at a given signal. "[25]

The course of the battle is differently related in the contemporary historical records. According to theArabchroniclerIbn al-Athir,David sent a smallKipchakdetachment of his men in order to simulate negotiation. The Muslims thought that the small detachment had left the Georgian army seeking protection, so the Muslims did not regard them as a threat. Meanwhile, the Georgians successfully managed to deploy a large portion of their force where they would almost encircle the enemy in a pincer movement. Their opponents remained unaware of such activities. Upon approaching the Seljuq leaders, the deserters, using the self-confidence of the Muslims to their advantage, attacked them with arrows, killing every Seljuq commander in sight and others who were attending the meeting.

While this was going on, David ordered a frontal attack on the enemy vanguard with his crusader knights which not only devastated the enemy's forward lines, but also entangled the Seljuq archers in close combat, effectively taking out a crucial component of Ilghazi's force. This trick resulted in chaos and panic among the Muslims. The Georgians then began to quickly advance on the flanks from the western side of the mountain in full formation. Ilghazi and his son-in-law both survived the attack on the vanguard, but were severely injured during the fight and withdrew from the battlefield, leaving the Seljuq army virtually leaderless.

Section of the Didgori monument with swords stuck in the ground

The majority of his commanders were either injured or killed, which caused confusion and probably resulted in a lack of adequate response to the chaotic situation. King David didn't hesitate and personally led the Georgian right flank, ordering his heavy cavalry to ride straight into the seemingly disorganised Seljuk left flank, which was trying to reinforce the vanguard. Having the advantage of moving downhill, the charge of the Georgian cavalry proved very effective.

Almost simultaneously the left wing, under the command of David's sonDemetrius,struck the Seljuk right flank also with heavy cavalry. When the Georgian infantry joined the fight, the Seljuq troops started to panic and retreateden massethrough the huge gap in their army's rearguard, which wasn't engaged in the battle. This provoked large numbers of uninvolved Seljuq troops to flee as well, causing a massive rout, while their vanguard was completely annihilated. According to a Georgian chronicler, King David’s troops pursued them for three days “putting all of them to the sword and leaving them to the carnivorous beasts and birds of the mountains and plains” of the Manglisi Valley.[25]

"Terrible and savage slaughter of the enemy troops ensued and the [enemy] corpses filled up the rivers and covered all valleys and cliffs."

— Matthew of Edessa

With the Kipchaks joining in, the final remnants of Seljuq resistance crumbled and joined the rout. The battle was decided within three hours with the Seljuq army overrun, leaving a very large number of dead, injured, prisoners, and booty. Fleeing remnants were constantly pursued and run down for several days so that they wouldn't have time or opportunity to regroup or commence any other move.

Aside from those accounts, it has also been suggested that confronted by a vanguard of the large invading force, David had to rely on the advantages the nearby terrain offered to disguise his troop movements. The Seljuk cavalry was provoked or tricked into a relatively narrow pass where they probably had not much room to maneuver. As these were cut off from the rest of Ilghazi's army, the Georgians were easily able to take them out with spears, pikes, and light infantry using bows and javelins. The rest of the coalition army was probably forced to climb slopes to attack the Georgian army's main body, while being constantly struck at the flanks by heavy cavalry. After a while, those tactics broke the fighting will of the Muslim army, which was soon routed. Ilghazi reportedly received an injury to his head when a hundred crusaders managed to break through his lines, rushing towards the Seljuq command banner.[33]

Aftermath[edit]

The numbers of Seljuks fleeing the field was reportedly so large that the Georgian cavalry was taking scores of prisoners for several days. As a result, the Georgians were able to liberate the entire region from Muslim influence and even contest territories within theSeljuq Empire,which at that point was left almost defenceless. The captured Seljuqs would serve for David's ambitions to rebuild his kingdom.[34]

Expansion ofKingdom of GeorgiaunderDavid IV's reign.

The unification of Georgia and the elimination of Muslim authority was completed in the year following the battle at Didgori. David laidsiegeto andcapturedthe city ofTbilisi,which became the capital of Georgia.

The medieval sources emphasize David's acts of revenge against the Muslims of Tbilisi. However, the Arab historianal-'Ayni(1360–1451), who utilizes sources, some of which have not survived, admits that the city was pillaged but says that the Georgian king eventually showed patience and "respected the feelings of the Muslims."[26][34]A well-educated man, he preached tolerance of other religions, abrogated taxes and services for the Muslims and Jews, and protected theSufisand Muslim scholars.

Having his forces exhausted and being wounded himself, Ilghazi returned toMardinin a devastated condition. The Didgori battle helped the Crusader states, which had been under the pressure of Ilghazi's armies. The weakening of the main enemy of the Latin principalities was beneficial for the Kingdom of Jerusalem under KingBaldwin II.

According to A. Mikaberidze, "The triumphant victory at Didgori captured the imagination of future Georgian generations. A contemporary chronicler marveled, “What tongue can relate the wonders which our sustaining Christ gave us on that day? And what are the narrations of Homer and Aristotle to me about the Trojan War and the bravery of Achilles or Josephus’ writings about the valor of the Maccabees or Alexander and Titus at Jerusalem?” The battle entered Georgian national consciences as a “miraculous victory” (ძლევაჲ საკვირველი) and is without doubt one of the apogees of Georgian history. It signaled the emergence of Georgia as a military power in the late 11–12th centuries and shifted the balance scales in favor of Georgian cultural as well as political supremacy in eastern Asia Minor. "[25]

References[edit]

  1. ^United States Congress. House Select Committee on Communist Aggression (1954).Investigation of Communist takeover and occupation of the non-Russian nations of the U.S.S.R.University of Michigan Library. p. 180.
  2. ^Khazanov, Anatoly M.; Wink, Andre (2001).Nomads in the Sedentary World.Routledge. p. 47.
  3. ^Rogers, Clifford J.; DeVries, Kelly; France, John (June 19, 2014).Journal of Medieval Military History: Volume XII.Boydell Press. p. 88.
  4. ^Coene, Frederik (2011).The Caucasus – An Introduction (Routledge Contemporary Russia and Eastern Europe)(1st ed.). Routledge. p. 113.
  5. ^Mikaberidze 2015,p. 253.
  6. ^Rayfield, Donald (2012).Edge of Empires: A History of Georgia.Reaktion Books. p. 92.
  7. ^Prokhorov, Aleksandr Mikhaĭlovich (1973).Great Soviet Encyclopedia, Volume 8.Macmillan. p. 215.
  8. ^Baumer, Christoph (2018).History of Central Asia, The: 4-volume set (The History of Central Asia).I.B. Tauris. p. 74.
  9. ^Fähnrich, Heinz (2010).Geschichte Georgiens (Handbook of Oriental Studies. Section 8 Uralic & Central Asi)(German ed.). Brill. p. 199.
  10. ^Mikaberidze 2015,p. 263.
  11. ^Lordkipanidze, Mariam (1987).Georgia in the 11th–12th Centuries(1st ed.). Ganatleba Publishers. p. 98.
  12. ^Murray, Allan V. (2006).The Crusades: An Encyclopedia 4 Volume Set.ABC-CLIO. p. 357.
  13. ^Osman Turan, Selçuklular Zamanında Türkiye, İstanbul, 2013, p. 191.
  14. ^Sevim, “Artuk Oğlu İlgazi”, p. 684; Sevim- Merçil, Selçuklu Devletleri Tarihi, p. 235.
  15. ^Kırzıoğlu, Yukarı-Kür ve Çoruk Boyları’nda Kıpçaklar, p. 117.
  16. ^Mikaberidze, Alexander. Conflict And Conquest In The Islamic World. Print. p. 276.
  17. ^abAlexander Mikaberidze,Miraculous Victory:’ Battle of Didgori, 1121,Published: May 14, 2008; "The size of the Muslim army is still a matter of debate with numbers ranging from a fantastic 800,000 men ( “Bella Antiochena”, Galterii Cancelarii), 600,000 Turks (Matthew of Edessa) to 400,000 (Smbat Sparapet’s Chronicle) while the estimates of modern Georgian historians vary between 100,000–250,000 men."[1]Archived2017-07-18 at theWayback Machine
  18. ^Ibn al-Athir, Al-Kāmil fī al-tārīkh (الكامل في التاريخ): "The Complete History"; vol: 10, p. 450
  19. ^"დიდგორის ომის მიმდინარეობის ეტაპები".www.ufali.ge.Archivedfrom the original on 2022-07-02.Retrieved2021-04-28.
  20. ^abСмбат Спарапет / Летопись / пер. А. Г. Галстяна – Ер. Изд-во «Айастан». 1974 г.Царь Грузии Давид, сын Декая, сын Багарата, сын Георге, собрал все своё войско, пригласил на помощь также 40000 кипчаков, 18000 аланов, 10000 армян, 500 франков, людей храбрых и воинственных. Вот с таким количеством людей он (Давид) выступил в бой. Это был страшный бой. С божьей помощью победили христиане. Они истребили свыше 400000 и взяли в плен 50000 человек. Султан Мелек и Хази позорно обратились в бегство, а Давид победоносно и радостно возвратился обратно
  21. ^Ronald Grigor Suny / The Making of the Georgian Nation / Indiana University Press, 1994. p. 36 (418).ISBN978-0253209153On August 12, 1121, the Georgians and their Armenian, Qipchak, Osetin, and Shirvan allies advanced and attacked the Muslims unexpectedly near Didgori, achieving what in Georgian history is known as dzlevai sakvir- veli, the "wonderful victory."
  22. ^Suny, Ronald Grigor(1994).The Making of the Georgian Nation.Indiana University Press.p. 36.ISBN0-253-20915-3.
  23. ^Virgil, et al. Georgica. Heidelberg: C. Winter, 1985. Print.[ISBN missing]
  24. ^Venning, Timothy; Frankopan, Peter (2015).A Chronology of the Crusades.Routledge.ISBN978-1317496427.Archivedfrom the original on 2023-03-18.Retrieved2020-12-07.
  25. ^abcde"'Miraculous Victory:' Battle of Didgori, 1121 | Armchair General Magazine ".armchairgeneral.com.Archivedfrom the original on 2017-07-18.Retrieved2020-08-12.
  26. ^abMinorsky, Vladimir(1993). "Tiflis". In Houtsma, M. Th.; van Donzel, E. (eds.).E. J. Brill's FirstEncyclopaedia of Islam,1913–1936.Brill. p. 755.ISBN90-04-08265-4.
  27. ^(in Georgian)TheGeorgian Chroniclesabout the Cuman – Kipchak resettlement in Georgia at theTITUS ProjectArchived2020-03-06 at theWayback Machine.
  28. ^Anatoly Michailovich Khazanov, André Wink (2001),Nomads in the Sedentary World,pp. 46–48.Routledge,ISBN0-7007-1369-7.
  29. ^Denis Sinor (1990),The Cambridge History of Early Inner Asia,pp. 181, 280.Cambridge University Press,ISBN0-521-24304-1.
  30. ^Matteos Urhayetsi 1869: 438
  31. ^Galterius 1896: 113–114
  32. ^Soltes, Ori Z. National Treasures Of Georgia. London: Philip Wilson Publishers, 1999. Print.
  33. ^Rogers, Clifford J, Kelly DeVries, and John France.Journal of Medieval Military History.Woodbridge, UK: Boydell Press, 2013. Print.[ISBN missing][page needed]
  34. ^ab(in Georgian)Javakhishvili, Ivane(1982),k'art'veli eris istoria(The History of the Georgian Nation), vol. 2, pp. 184–187.Tbilisi State UniversityPress.

Bibliography[edit]

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